Landless People’s Movement (LPM) Member of Parliament (MP) and chief whip Henny Seibeb has called for the review of the Namibian Mining Act, saying it currently lacks an appropriate definition and allows Exclusive Prospecting Licences (EPL) owners to demand exclusivity.
Seibeb in a motion moved in parliament on Wednesday, specifically expressed concern about the plight of some Small-Scale Miners in the Erongo Region, who although contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), are given very little attention.
“Small-scale mining in Namibia remains a relatively under-explored and insufficiently researched area and there is a notable scarcity of research dedicated to comprehending the activities of small-scale miners within the country.
Despite nearly a century of small-scale mining operations in Namibia, this sub-sector has persisted in providing employment opportunities, particularly in the extraction of semi-precious stones,” Seibeb expressed.
He further indicated that in spite of the presence of a niche domestic market, the absence of formalisation and organised structures within the small-scale mining sector has hindered its growth prospects, placing it at a lower tier of the economic hierarchy.
Among the primary economic sectors, mining has emerged as the foremost contributor to the nation’s GDP and plays a pivotal role in poverty alleviation efforts, he said.
This situation extends to the small-scale miners operating within the Erongo region, where an estimated population of nearly 10 000 small-scale miners are engaged in various mining activities and as observed elsewhere on the continent, small-scale miners in this region face substantial challenges in sustaining a decent livelihood, he also stressed.
Seibeb claimed that efforts by claim holders to review the Mining Act have been unsuccessful and called on the involvement of stakeholders, who should collectively engage in the review process.
He therefore recommended that his proposal be deliberated upon by cabinet for a duration of one week, after which it should be forwarded to a relevant Standing Committee for a comprehensive investigation.
“This will allow the Standing Committee sufficient time to provide its report to parliament within a period of three months so as to adequately address the plight of the small-scale miners in the Erongo region, and by extension the whole of Namibia,” the MP concluded.
Source: Namibia Press Agency